Month: October 2025

This November, a unique pilates event ‘Movement and Stillness’, will grace Drawing Office Two at Titanic Hotel Belfast for the first time.

Curated by pilates instructor Nicola Morrison of Eclectic in Bangor, this immersive health and wellbeing experience aims to combine energising pilates with nourishing refreshments and a deeply restorative sound bath, all set against the backdrop of the city’s most iconic and historic hotel.

Designed to encourage both physical vitality and mindful reflection by engaging the body and mind, this event promises to leave guests feeling refreshed, centred, and balanced. Guests will begin their experience with an energising pilates session led by Nicola, whose holistic and thoughtful approach has earned her a loyal following in Bangor and across Northern Ireland. The session focuses on building strength, flexibility, and posture awareness, while also encouraging participants to connect deeply with their bodies and breath.

Nicola, who has built a reputation for delivering thoughtful and holistic pilates sessions at her Bangor health and wellness business, said: “This ‘Movement and Stillness’ event is about creating space for both energy and calm – the dynamic flow of pilates followed by the grounding and restorative experience of sound.

“To bring this concept to life out on the road from Eclectic for the first time to such a landmark venue as Titanic Hotel Belfast is incredibly exciting, and I’m thrilled to share this concept with those seeking a unique and uplifting health and wellbeing experience.”

Following movement in the pilates session, guests will participate in a sound bath with Aideen Carmichael to promote deep relaxation and inner stillness. Using resonant tones and gentle vibrations, the sound bath encourages a meditative state that can help reduce stress, restore balance, and leave participants feeling rejuvenated.

The event is open to all levels, whether you are a seasoned pilates practitioner or simply curious about exploring new ways to support your wellbeing. Whether seeking to enhance fitness, relieve stress, or simply experience something new in an inspiring setting, ‘Movement and Stillness’, a soulful morning dedicated to wellbeing, balance, and self-care.

‘Movement and Stillness’ at 10.00am on Sunday 23 November is priced at £40 per person and places are limited. To reserve your place, book now at
https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/ws?studioid=563547&stype=-7&sTG=74&sVT=1459&sView=day&sLoc=0&date=11/23/25

The Belfast International Horror Festival previously known as the Dark Hedges Film Festival returns for a fifth year with a new name and its biggest ever programme to date!

This year’s programme runs from 22-31 October, with 12 screenings across six different venues in the city.

 Live Here/ The Descent with Special guest Shauna Macdonald

This year’s highlights include the Irish premiere of Julie Pacino’s (Daughter of Hollywood legend Al) feature debut I Live Here Now, along with a special guest Shauna Macdonald, who will introduce a special screening of Neil Marshal’s The Descent, to mark the film’s 20th anniversary (Both Saturday 25 October).

The theme of “Female Rage” runs throughout this year’s programme and will be explored through a number of events, including a pop up ‘prom-themed’ screening of Brian De Palma’s Carrie (1976) at Ashfield Girls high school (22 October) along with screenings of Jennifer’s Body (29th October) and Bride of Frankenstein (26 October). The screening of Jame Whale’s feature will be followed by a discussion, hosted by local author Victoria Brown to examine how the horror/Sc-Fi genre represents the theme of female rage onscreen.

The Comedy of Horror

This year’s festival also features a new strand within the programme entitled “The Comedy of Horror,” which will look at some of the programmers’ favourite examples of movies that successfully manage to straddle these two very different genres.

There will be screenings of Peter Jackson’s Braindead (known as Dead Alive for American Audiences) and the cult classic Tammy and the T-Rex, starring Denise Richards and the late Paul Walker.

Both films will be introduced by a member of the festival’s team and will be accompanied by screenings of new films, including Irish filmmaker Zoe Kavanagh’s Demon Hunter: Time 2 Kill and Sander Maran’s absolutely bonkers Estonian horror-musical, Chainsaws Were Singing.

Tony Todd Double Bill

The festival will also pay tribute to the late Tony Todd, who passed away in November 2024 by screening two of the actor’s most iconic features, Candyman (1992) and Night of the Living Dead (1990) at Accidental Theatre (28 October).

Short Film Competition

The festival remains committed to its Short Film competition (27 October) with finalists in the International and Irish categories screening at the Accidental Theatre. Shorts within the festival’s ‘Official Selection’ category will also be available to watch online throughout the duration of the programme (22 – 31 October 2025) on the festival’s digital player (https://bihf.vhx.tv/).

Horror Movie Quiz

On Thursday 30th October (7pm) the festival’s annual horror movie quiz returns once again (Accidental Theatre) and as always there’ll be a range of prizes and goodies up for grabs.

The Craft onboard Belfast Barge

This year’s lineup concludes on Halloween night with a screening of The Craft onboard The Belfast Barge.

 

Website – www.bihf.co.uk

Socials

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Belfastinternationalhorrorfestival

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/belfasthorrorfest

X – https://x.com/belfasthorror

 

Award-winning Irish blues-rock artist Gráinne Duffy is set to perform a special, stripped-back semi-acoustic show, ‘Unplugged,’ at Lisburn’s ISLAND Arts Centre, Sat 8 Nov 2025, 8pm.

The gig promises an intimate evening showcasing her celebrated original material alongside a selection of classic rock, blues, and soul compositions.

The ‘Unplugged’ format offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience Duffy’s powerful vocals and distinctive guitar work in a close, raw setting. The setlist will draw from her extensive five-album catalogue, which includes a Grammy-nominated release and her critically acclaimed 2023 album, Dirt Woman Blues, produced by Grammy winner Chris Goldsmith (Ben Harper, Blind Boys of Alabama). Dirt Woman Blues was notably ranked as the fifth ‘Best Blues Album’ by Classic Rock Magazine.

Gráinne Duffy has consistently proven her calibre on the international stage. Her accolades include winning the prestigious 2021 ‘Best Modern Roots Artist’ at the Independent Blues Awards, and her 2020 album, Voodoo Blues, achieved Top 10 chart rankings across the UK, France, and Canada. She has shared performance billing with icons such as Billy Gibbons, Eric Gales, and Shemekia Copeland, and topped the all-female led bill at Cornbury Festival alongside Mavis Staples and Alanis Morissette.

Tickets for Gráinne Duffy Unplugged, priced at £18.00 are available by visiting www.ISLANDArtsCentre.com or telephoning the ISLAND Box office on 028 9244 7744.

Come along to Ards Puppet Festival in Ards Arts Centre, Newtownards on Sunday 26 and Monday 27 October, for lots of puppet family fun!

The magical festival, organised by Ards and North Down Borough Council, will welcome a packed programme celebrating puppets of all shapes and sizes, through performances, workshops and even a Woodland Wonderland filled with curious creatures!

Sea Legs Puppet Theatre present Tales from The Farmyard, where you can meet the Little Red Hen and her famous farmyard friends, along with Edward Lear’s Dream, featuring characters like Quangle Wangle and the Owl and the Pussy Cat. Join Flotsam and Jetsam and Penny and the Far Thing presented by Lempen Theatre for visual puppet theatre experiences with beautiful music. Lempen Theatre will also present The Fisher and his Wife, a traditional story told from a box, mounted on the front of a penny farthing bike!

Over both days, festival-goers can enjoy lively performances Professor Queen-Bee’s It’s Bee-Hind You, a Punch and Judy-style show with a ‘green’ twist, marvel at the astonishing Flea Circus and explore Clydebuilt’s stunning puppet exhibition.

Handmade Theatre Company return to Ards Puppet Festival to charm audiences with their Woodland Wonderland. Families are invited to take a wander through this magical installation and meet the gorgeous collection of woodland creatures. Children can also participate in puppet-making workshops to create their own characters.

Speaking about the festival, Arts Community Development Officer, Amy McKelvey said: “We are thrilled to be presenting a variety of puppet talent at this year’s festival and can’t wait to welcome families to Ards Arts Centre this half-term for a truly magical event which will appeal to young and old alike.” 

 

With a mix of bookable shows and free activities, Ards Puppet Festival promises two-days of fun for the whole family. The festival takes place from 26 – 27 October, 11am – 4pm, in Ards Arts Centre, Conway Square, Newtownards.

To view the full programme and to book tickets, go to: https://puppetfestival.andculture.org.uk/whats-on

Preparations are well underway to welcome up to 10,000 participants and spectators to Belfast later this month for Oireachtas na Samhna – Ireland’s oldest Irish language and arts gathering.

The city is hosting the festival from 29 October to 2 November, with Gaeilgeoirí travelling from across Ireland to enjoy five days of events across arts, music, sean-nós singing and the spoken word.

Belfast City Council, which led the successful bid to bring the event back to the city for the first time since 1997, has also provided £30,000 of grants to five Irish language organisations to deliver community-based arts activities in the run-up to the festival. They are An Droichead, Ionad Uíbh Eachach, Cumann Cultúrtha Mhic Reachtain, Ionad na Fuiseoige and Glór na Móna.

Delivered via Foras na Gaeilge’s Scéim Forbartha Líonraí Gaeilge (Irish Language Networks Development Scheme), funding has been used to put on everything from beginners’ language workshops and conversational classes through to unique events focusing on different aspects of Irish language and culture.  

Meeting with groups to hear more about what they have planned, the Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Paul Doherty, said:

“Our council is pleased to help bring Oireachtas back to Belfast once again, and there’s a real sense of excitement now, with just two weeks to go until the ‘Gathering of the Gaels’ comes to town.

“Big events like this have a positive impact on our city – they support our retailers, tourism providers and hospitality venues, and they showcase Belfast to new visitors, highlighting what we have to offer and encouraging people to come back again.

“For Irish language speakers, Oireachtas is a unique and special opportunity to immerse themselves an Gaeilge and share their passion for protecting and nurturing the language.

“This reflects our council’s wider goal of ensuring all languages in our city are respected, fostered and celebrated. There are some brilliant events planned, city-wide, to fully embrace the festival and encourage both new and existing speakers to get involved in everything Oireachtas has to offer.”

Among the organisations who have received funding from the council to deliver community activities around the festival are An Droichead.

Their Oireachtas programme includes a free talk on Samhain, a beson broom workshop (Sunday 19 October) where participants will learn how to make a traditional ‘broomstick’ from twigs and poles, and a walking trail on Thursday 23 October, hunting for Tuatha Dé Danann – the mythical fairy people of Ireland.

“For Irish language speakers and learners, the Oireachtas is more than just a cultural festival – it’s a celebration of identity, heritage, and community,” said Fionnuala Nic Thom, Development Officer with An Droichead.

“With the support of council funding, we will see more people empowered to engage with the Oireachtas, a gathering place for the Irish language community, through events, performances, and shared experiences that showcase indigenous arts and bring the Irish language to life.”

Funding has also been provided to Fís an Phobail to deliver schools workshops to pupils in Irish medium schools, highlighting the heritage of Oireachtas.

During September, pupils at Bunscoil Phobal Feirste, Bunscoil an tSléibhe Dhuibh and Gaelscoil na bhFál have been exploring the history of the festival, first held in Dublin in 1897, and learning more about specialist competitions, such as Corn Uí Riada (sean-nós singing), Steip (sean-nós dancing) and Lúibíní (two people answering each other in poetic verses).  
 
More information on Oireachtas na Samhna is available from the official festival website at antoireachtas.ie/oireachtas-na-samhna/ 

It’s that chilling time of year again – when pumpkins grin, ghosts giggle, and creativity runs wild!

 

Both Flowerfield Arts Centre in Portstewart and Roe Valley Arts Centre in Limavady are getting into the Halloween spirit, with a fang-tastic programme of films, workshops and frightfully good family fun.

At Flowerfield Arts Centre, little monsters can dive into creativity with a 2D Character Animation Masterclass (29th October) led by Joel Simon, where young artists can design and animate their own spooky creations.

On screen, the family favourite Hotel Transylvania (27th October) brings hilarious Halloween antics to life as part of Cinemagic’s ‘Young Audiences Supporting Foodbanks’ initiative. For grown-up film fans, things take a chilling turn with The Fog (30th October), John Carpenter’s 1980 cult ghost story that promises to send shivers down your spine.

Over in Limavady, Roe Valley Arts Centre has conjured up a week packed with Halloween magic and mayhem. Young creatives can enjoy a range of themed workshops including Jellycat Ceramics (25th October), Wizards & Witches Science (27th October), Magic Potions Bubble Art (28th October), Slime Lab (29th October), and even Creepy Crawlies & Repulsive Reptiles (30th October), where brave visitors can meet real-life creatures!

Families can settle in for a free screening of Disney Pixar’s Coco (28th October), a heartwarming celebration of family, love and remembrance, while younger audiences will adore the enchanting puppet show Tom Thumb (27th October) presented by Banyan Theatre.

As darkness falls, adults can enjoy a night of true-life ghost stories with Tenx9 Halloween (30th October), a storytelling event that’s equal parts eerie and entertaining – perfect for those who like their chills with a touch of cabaret atmosphere.

Both centres round off the festivities with a spooky spectacle of fun at their Haunted House open afternoons. Expect an afternoon of eerie decorations, Halloween crafts, and a monster disco where even the zombies can’t help but dance. Costumes are highly encouraged – whether you’re a witch, wizard or wobbly mummy, it’s time to get into the spirit!

Haunted House Open Afternoons (Free Admission.  Children must be accompanied at all times.)

• Roe Valley Arts Centre, Limavady: Thursday 30th October, 2–4pm
• Flowerfield Arts Centre, Portstewart: Friday 31st October, 2–4pm

So, grab your broomsticks, dust off your capes, and get ready for a Halloween filled with creativity, community and plenty of spooky surprises.

Book workshops and event tickets at www.flowerfield.org or www.roevalleyarts.com, or call your local arts centre for more details.

Please note the Haunted House Open Days at both centres are free and no booking is required. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian throughout the Open Day events.